A federal judge approved the request for Cummins to return to Tennessee to face felony charges of kidnapping his former student, 15-year-old, Elizabeth Thomas. Cummins, who appeared in court wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and chains shackled around his waist, didn’t speak at all. He turned his head a few times towards the prosecutors as they explained why the 50-year-old was being charged, but Cummins mostly kept his eyes forward on Magistrate Judge Kendall Newman.

Tad Cummins had option of pleading guilty today, and trying to stay in Sacramento. He declined & will be returned to Tennessee "forthwith" pic.twitter.com/FWnnMPjA9Q

Cummins was appointed a public defender, California attorney, Benjamin Galloway. According to Galloway, Cummins isn’t a flight risk because the case is “not an abduction or kidnapping” and there were no threats or coercion made to the victim. The lawyer also said that Cummins is looking forward to getting back to Tennessee to fight the charges against him.

The judge read aloud to Cummins his federal charge of “transportation of a minor across state lines for the purpose of criminal sexual intercourse.” If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a substantial fine of up to $50,000.